Again Jesus returns to the invitation that prayer and connection with the Heavenly Father beckons us to discover. We’re to live with a desire to persistently ask, seek and knock in order to receive from His hand as He extends provision, wisdom and guidance. There are no supply chain issues in the Kingdom of God and His heart is more than ready to commune and connect with His children. He is always for our best.

Again Jesus returns to the invitation that prayer and connection with the Heavenly Father beckons us to discover. We’re to live with a desire to persistently ask, seek and knock in order to receive from His hand as He extends provision, wisdom and guidance. There are no supply chain issues in the Kingdom of God and His heart is more than ready to commune and connect with His children. He is always for our best.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:1-6 contains one of the most often quoted verses, yet it is one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus. How are followers of Jesus meant to use discernment in confronting sin in each other and ourselves? How are we to use discernment in confronting those outside the church? Jesus answers these questions for us in this short, but often mischaracterized, passage of The Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:1-6 contains one of the most often quoted verses, yet it is one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus. How are followers of Jesus meant to use discernment in confronting sin in each other and ourselves? How are we to use discernment in confronting those outside the church? Jesus answers these questions for us in this short, but often mischaracterized, passage of The Sermon on the Mount.

Judgment According to Jesus

As Jesus continues His sermon, He makes several strong statements regarding the relationship His followers should have with their possessions. The whole-hearted follower of Jesus cannot pursue Him and material goods. Doing so creates an anxious heart that prevents His followers from seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness before all other things. How can Jesus’ followers overcome this anxiety and live with a single-minded devotion to Him?

As Jesus continues His sermon, He makes several strong statements regarding the relationship His followers should have with their possessions. The whole-hearted follower of Jesus cannot pursue Him and material goods. Doing so creates an anxious heart that prevents His followers from seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness before all other things. How can Jesus’ followers overcome this anxiety and live with a single-minded devotion to Him?

Faith and Anxiety

As Jesus finishes this section of the Sermon on the Mount on practicing religion with Kingdom righteousness, He teaches His followers how to fast. In this week’s message we look at reasons to fast and benefits to fasting. In transitioning to the next part of the sermon Jesus calls us back to examine our motives. He calls us to seek the eternal rewards our Heavenly Father wants to give us.

As Jesus finishes this section of the Sermon on the Mount on practicing religion with Kingdom righteousness, He teaches His followers how to fast. In this week’s message we look at reasons to fast and benefits to fasting. In transitioning to the next part of the sermon Jesus calls us back to examine our motives. He calls us to seek the eternal rewards our Heavenly Father wants to give us.

Fasting and Reward

Prayer is all about our relational connection with God. Jesus unpacks some incredible truths about the reality of God and the power we are invited to experience through a vibrant prayer life connected with our Heavenly Father. The Lord’s Prayer lays out some insights and practices for us to utilize as we engage in prayer.

Prayer is all about our relational connection with God. Jesus unpacks some incredible truths about the reality of God and the power we are invited to experience through a vibrant prayer life connected with our Heavenly Father. The Lord’s Prayer lays out some insights and practices for us to utilize as we engage in prayer.

Your Prayer Life

As we enter a new section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, we see Jesus shift from explaining how to righteously fulfill the Law to how to righteously practice our faith. Jesus calls us to check our heart’s motivation when we give. Are we generous because we want to build our religious reputation, or do we give because we desire the rewards God has on offer for those whose generosity is an act of worship?

As we enter a new section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, we see Jesus shift from explaining how to righteously fulfill the Law to how to righteously practice our faith. Jesus calls us to check our heart’s motivation when we give. Are we generous because we want to build our religious reputation, or do we give because we desire the rewards God has on offer for those whose generosity is an act of worship?

How to Give Rightly

Love and enemies are words that seem mutually exclusive. Putting the two together raises serious questions. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies it is as shocking and challenging in our generation as it was in the 1st century. Jesus is challenging us to grow and ground our reactions from a place of spiritual maturity more than emotional retaliations. We all were once enemies of God, but through Jesus, we’ve been made a friend of God. (Romans 5:8) We’re now invited to love like God does. We’re to live above the law of reciprocity – to do good, bless and pray for…

Love and enemies are words that seem mutually exclusive. Putting the two together raises serious questions. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies it is as shocking and challenging in our generation as it was in the 1st century. Jesus is challenging us to grow and ground our reactions from a place of spiritual maturity more than emotional retaliations. We all were once enemies of God, but through Jesus, we’ve been made a friend of God. (Romans 5:8) We’re now invited to love like God does. We’re to live above the law of reciprocity – to do good, bless and pray for…

Love Your Enemy

In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus tells His followers they need to radically reorient their thoughts toward retaliation. Not only are His followers to not retaliate, they should not even resist the one who seeks to do evil toward them! How can we, as His followers today, become the type of Kingdom-oriented people who generously sacrifice our own wants and needs in order to actively live in and proclaim the Gospel to those around us?

In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus tells His followers they need to radically reorient their thoughts toward retaliation. Not only are His followers to not retaliate, they should not even resist the one who seeks to do evil toward them! How can we, as His followers today, become the type of Kingdom-oriented people who generously sacrifice our own wants and needs in order to actively live in and proclaim the Gospel to those around us?

Live Sacrificially

We are to be people unconditional about love and unapologetic about truth. People of integrity – which is not perfection, but of integration and wholeness. People able to admit our faults and learn from them, people committed to being truthful in all we do, just as Jesus is.

We are to be people unconditional about love and unapologetic about truth. People of integrity – which is not perfection, but of integration and wholeness. People able to admit our faults and learn from them, people committed to being truthful in all we do, just as Jesus is.

Truthful

Heat can be a good thing in the right context – but mismanaged heat is a dangerous thing. Jesus challenges us to not let ourselves mismanage our heat – our anger. It can get us sideways and destroy relationships. We’re called as followers of Jesus to let our anger drive us to be helpful instead of hurtful. 

Heat can be a good thing in the right context – but mismanaged heat is a dangerous thing. Jesus challenges us to not let ourselves mismanage our heat – our anger. It can get us sideways and destroy relationships. We’re called as followers of Jesus to let our anger drive us to be helpful instead of hurtful.

Mismanaged Heat

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We continue to look into the story of Esther, new character is introduced and he has evil intentions. We see Esther and Mordecai’s faith bolstering and bravery growing in chapters 3 and 4. We’re highlighting the drastic difference between a worldly sense of power (to control and dominate) with a godly sense of power (based in vulnerability and advocating for others). God desires for each of us to grow in our bravery for him, for faith and to be an influence for good.

We continue to look into the story of Esther, new character is introduced and he has evil intentions. We see Esther and Mordecai’s faith bolstering and bravery growing in chapters 3 and 4. We’re highlighting the drastic difference between a worldly sense of power (to control and dominate) with a godly sense of power (based in vulnerability and advocating for others). God desires for each of us to grow in our bravery for him, for faith and to be an influence for good.

Growing Brave

We get to eavesdrop in on a one-on-one conversation with Nicodemus and Jesus – as he is curious and leaning into this movement of Jesus to learn more. Jesus’ actions spoke loudly, but now we get to see how His words bring clarity. We experience the backdrop to one of the simplest and most profound verses describing God’s heart in all the Scriptures. Lean in with us, let it refresh your soul and fuel your ability to share the hope of Jesus. (see John 3:1-21)

We get to eavesdrop in on a one-on-one conversation with Nicodemus and Jesus – as he is curious and leaning into this movement of Jesus to learn more. Jesus’ actions spoke loudly, but now we get to see how His words bring clarity. We experience the backdrop to one of the simplest and most profound verses describing God’s heart in all the Scriptures. Lean in with us, let it refresh your soul and fuel your ability to share the hope of Jesus. (see John 3:1-21)

For God So Loved

Part of growing as a disciple is becoming certain about who Jesus is and also becoming certain about who we are – the beloved of God. When we put our faith in Christ we are enfolded into the eternal love of God and our identity finds its rest there. Now, embracing our true identity of who God says we are is far from automatic, but we must learn to love ourselves from that reality (Ephesians 3:16-19). The Cross is THE key to knowing our worth and value to God – to embracing a real love for self. Your value is not based on what you do, how much you have or what others say about you. As one who is, in Christ, your value is based forever, solely and securely on WHO JESUS SAYS YOU ARE.

Part of growing as a disciple is becoming certain about who Jesus is and also becoming certain about who we are – the beloved of God. When we put our faith in Christ we are enfolded into the eternal love of God and our identity finds its rest there. Now, embracing our true identity of who God says we are is far from automatic, but we must learn to love ourselves from that reality (Ephesians 3:16-19). The Cross is THE key to knowing our worth and value to God – to embracing a real love for self. Your value is not based on what you do, how much you have or what others say about you. As one who is, in Christ, your value is based forever, solely and securely on WHO JESUS SAYS YOU ARE.

Inward

Jesus bled for us and he is calling us to bleed for one another!  When did our love for one another become so safe, so shallow, so measured, so rational that it no longer resembles the love of Christ?  We must return to our first love and a fresh revelation of just how deep and wide the love of Christ is! Then will we be empowered to go into the world to love well.

Jesus bled for us and he is calling us to bleed for one another!  When did our love for one another become so safe, so shallow, so measured, so rational that it no longer resembles the love of Christ?  We must return to our first love and a fresh revelation of just how deep and wide the love of Christ is! Then will we be empowered to go into the world to love well.

Outward

Let’s look into a prayer of Jesus. It’s known as the great Priestly Prayer of Jesus in the gospel of John, chapter 17. There’s so much that comes from how Jesus prays. Read it. Lean into it. Meet His heart for you in it. He knew all that would occur once the church began to move – so he prayed for you, for me, for us. And He still does…

Let’s look into a prayer of Jesus. It’s known as the great Priestly Prayer of Jesus in the gospel of John, chapter 17. There’s so much that comes from how Jesus prays. Read it. Lean into it. Meet His heart for you in it. He knew all that would occur once the church began to move – so he prayed for you, for me, for us. And He still does…

Jesus Prays

As we celebrate Easter, we remember that first morning when Jesus arose! It changed everything – for everyday moving forward! An eternal HOPE dawned that day that still reaches out to us in our day. How can we lay hold of it? How can we have it hold us? Through trusting in Jesus as The Way, The Truth and The Life. May God’s grace refresh your heart today friends as we worship and adore our Risen Savior!

As we celebrate Easter, we remember that first morning when Jesus arose! It changed everything – for everyday moving forward! An eternal HOPE dawned that day that still reaches out to us in our day. How can we lay hold of it? How can we have it hold us? Through trusting in Jesus as The Way, The Truth and The Life. May God’s grace refresh your heart today friends as we worship and adore our Risen Savior!

The Way, The Truth, The Life

Today we lean into John ch. 6 and this amazing passage of Scripture. It has a crescendo early on with the feeding of the 5,000 as Jesus does an incredible miracle; it then builds to this deafening ‘selah’ moment at the conclusion of Jesus’ toughest sermon. The miracle is a reminder that It’s never about how much we have to offer Jesus, but rather if we will offer whatever we have to Jesus and watch what He can do with it. At the conclusion of the chapter, Jesus proclaims that He is the Bread of Life and many of the fans of his feeding miracle the day before, walk away. What started with admiration, ended for some with abandonment. Jesus’ activity is to push people toward making a decision about him, not just admiring what he can do.

Today we lean into John ch. 6 and this amazing passage of Scripture. It has a crescendo early on with the feeding of the 5,000 as Jesus does an incredible miracle; it then builds to this deafening ‘selah’ moment at the conclusion of Jesus’ toughest sermon. The miracle is a reminder that It’s never about how much we have to offer Jesus, but rather if we will offer whatever we have to Jesus and watch what He can do with it. At the conclusion of the chapter, Jesus proclaims that He is the Bread of Life and many of the fans of his feeding miracle the day before, walk away. What started with admiration, ended for some with abandonment. Jesus’ activity is to push people toward making a decision about him, not just admiring what he can do.

Bread of Heaven

This message seeks to get behind the writing of John and why he wrote his gospel the way he did. John had lived an amazing life with and for Jesus. He had seen miraculous signs that he writes about but he had also seen almost everyone of his friends brutally killed for the cause of Christ so when he tells the story of the woman at the well he hopes others will be willing to give their lives to following Jesus the King!!

This message seeks to get behind the writing of John and why he wrote his gospel the way he did. John had lived an amazing life with and for Jesus. He had seen miraculous signs that he writes about but he had also seen almost everyone of his friends brutally killed for the cause of Christ so when he tells the story of the woman at the well he hopes others will be willing to give their lives to following Jesus the King!!

What Do You Want

The Gospel is a story of how Jesus became the saving King in fulfillment of Israel’s Story but few have ever understood how this all was apart of a Divine Conversation and plan before time began.  This message is a bold attempt to  show how it all connects together and when we see how this story works it becomes bigger and better than we ever imagined!!

The Gospel is a story of how Jesus became the saving King in fulfillment of Israel’s Story but few have ever understood how this all was apart of a Divine Conversation and plan before time began.  This message is a bold attempt to  show how it all connects together and when we see how this story works it becomes bigger and better than we ever imagined!!

The Gospel: Week 1

This season of Christmas extends to us a CHOICE. We each lean in, we each listen – we each get to choose. Back in Luke 2 – we see the shepherds do is what we each are invited to do. They heard the news, They believed it, They acted on what they heard. They chose wisely! Choose Jesus. Choose him today and then the next, and the next. Orient your life and living, around choosing him and his ways continually.

This season of Christmas extends to us a CHOICE. We each lean in, we each listen – we each get to choose. Back in Luke 2 – we see the shepherds do is what we each are invited to do. They heard the news, They believed it, They acted on what they heard. They chose wisely! Choose Jesus. Choose him today and then the next, and the next. Orient your life and living, around choosing him and his ways continually.

The Gift of Choice

Within chapter 3 of Titus we hear the call for us to leverage our lives for God and His good in our world. Paul hammers home the truth of all Jesus did and reminds us that being good or doing good isn’t what makes you right with God, but when you’re right with God – it always produces a life that seeks to do good! We are to be people who continually have a focus on how we can ‘do good’ within our scope of influence. We should stay alert for the God-ordained interruptions in life and partner with Him there.

Within chapter 3 of Titus we hear the call for us to leverage our lives for God and His good in our world. Paul hammers home the truth of all Jesus did and reminds us that being good or doing good isn’t what makes you right with God, but when you’re right with God – it always produces a life that seeks to do good! We are to be people who continually have a focus on how we can ‘do good’ within our scope of influence. We should stay alert for the God-ordained interruptions in life and partner with Him there.

Do Good Outwardly

The Apostle Paul was emphatic that Titus set things in order in the churches and that they would pursue doing good relationally. He wanted them to “embrace a lifestyle that is consistent with the gospel” and eliminate types of behaviors that would “discrete the Gospel message”.  We encourage you to join us in our attempt to discover what that looked like in the 1st Century and how that shapes our lifestyles in the 21st Century. Find clarity on your true identity,  the purpose of your life and how to fulfill that purpose.

The Apostle Paul was emphatic that Titus set things in order in the churches and that they would pursue doing good relationally. He wanted them to “embrace a lifestyle that is consistent with the gospel” and eliminate types of behaviors that would “discrete the Gospel message”.  We encourage you to join us in our attempt to discover what that looked like in the 1st Century and how that shapes our lifestyles in the 21st Century. Find clarity on your true identity,  the purpose of your life and how to fulfill that purpose.

Do Good Relationally

The small New Testament book of Titus contains some wisdom for us to glean as it comes to the internal work of God to do good within ourselves, in our relationships and in our sphere of influence around us. The Apostle Paul writes to give us a concise summary of how a follower of Jesus should live out the doctrine of grace with godliness and good works. It begins in chapter 1 with a challenge to grow strong godly character and to pursue building character over just managing a reputation. (character &gt; reputation)

The small New Testament book of Titus contains some wisdom for us to glean as it comes to the internal work of God to do good within ourselves, in our relationships and in our sphere of influence around us. The Apostle Paul writes to give us a concise summary of how a follower of Jesus should live out the doctrine of grace with godliness and good works. It begins in chapter 1 with a challenge to grow strong godly character and to pursue building character over just managing a reputation. (character &gt; reputation)

Do Good Within

Tonight we lean into some wisdom when it comes to conversations going sideways. Where we’re not talking TO a person, but we’re talking ABOUT that person. Some refer to it as gossip and we need to ZIP IT. Those with loose tongues cannot expect tight relationships. We are to be people that are building up others with our words, curating healthy relationships and fighting for them to keep from going sideways.

Tonight we lean into some wisdom when it comes to conversations going sideways. Where we’re not talking TO a person, but we’re talking ABOUT that person. Some refer to it as gossip and we need to ZIP IT. Those with loose tongues cannot expect tight relationships. We are to be people that are building up others with our words, curating healthy relationships and fighting for them to keep from going sideways.

Zip It

It takes 2 years to learn to talk, but it takes the rest of one’s life to learn to control what we say. Our words have power and we must lean into a new rhythm as it comes to navigating our conversations, conflicts and communication. We must learn to be QUICK TO LISTEN and slow to speak.

It takes 2 years to learn to talk, but it takes the rest of one’s life to learn to control what we say. Our words have power and we must lean into a new rhythm as it comes to navigating our conversations, conflicts and communication. We must learn to be QUICK TO LISTEN and slow to speak.

A New Rhythm

What matters most? Well, Jesus would say LOVE matters most! We want to take the next 3 weeks to lean into what Jesus said is the most important thing. It’s all centered upon God’s real love growing within us and leading us into this love movement that’s Upward, Inward and Outward simultaneously.Love God most, Love ourselves rightly, Love others really well. Tonight we lean into how can we grow our upward love back to God.

What matters most? Well, Jesus would say LOVE matters most! We want to take the next 3 weeks to lean into what Jesus said is the most important thing. It’s all centered upon God’s real love growing within us and leading us into this love movement that’s Upward, Inward and Outward simultaneously. Love God most, Love ourselves rightly, Love others really well. Tonight we lean into how can we grow our upward love back to God.

Upward

History matters and history shapes us. If this is true then the history of Jesus should shape us in such a way that we begin to “make history”. As we grow in our desire for God we learn to enter His story, His history and that changes history for eternity. Desire for God grows as we no longer live for ourselves but learn to live as Jesus lived.

History matters and history shapes us. If this is true then the history of Jesus should shape us in such a way that we begin to “make history”. As we grow in our desire for God we learn to enter His story, His history and that changes history for eternity. Desire for God grows as we no longer live for ourselves but learn to live as Jesus lived.

History Matters

We have a phrase we use: ‘sing the praises’ – referring to when we talk up or share about something or someone that means a lot to us. Psalm 145 is chalked full of insights, understandings and instruction all about praise for God. King David is talking up God, practicing his praise to the Lord and pushing us to follow his pattern – to make praise a normal and natural part of our lives. It’s helping us learn how to PAUSE to PRAISE and to grow our relationship with God.

We have a phrase we use: ‘sing the praises’ – referring to when we talk up or share about something or someone that means a lot to us. Psalm 145 is chalked full of insights, understandings and instruction all about praise for God. King David is talking up God, practicing his praise to the Lord and pushing us to follow his pattern – to make praise a normal and natural part of our lives. It’s helping us learn how to PAUSE to PRAISE and to grow our relationship with God.

Psalm 145

Worry and envy is the opposite of faith! In Psalm 37 1-8, God gives us action steps to put a stop to these feelings so we can live a life of faith and trust, otherwise we can be robbed of our joy, promises, and peace.

Worry and envy is the opposite of faith! In Psalm 37 1-8, God gives us action steps to put a stop to these feelings so we can live a life of faith and trust, otherwise we can be robbed of our joy, promises, and peace.

Psalms 37

Psalm 119 is wisdom psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It has one main theme – to celebrate God’s Word and inspire full obedience to it. We’re to be people seeking to know God better and walk in His ways as we experience Him in the Scriptures.

Psalm 119 is wisdom psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It has one main theme – to celebrate God’s Word and inspire full obedience to it. We’re to be people seeking to know God better and walk in His ways as we experience Him in the Scriptures.

Psalm 119

The best podcast episodes of the most interesting stories and things. From skyping someone while they're in space, to tracking down and meeting a telephone scammer in person, to the story of a Galapagos. These episodes will keep you and all your friends entertained and captivated for hours. Learn something new in every episode! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes: Interesting Stories & Things

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!